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Interjections

Interjections are words used to express some sudden feeling or emotion. They are not grammatically related to other words in a sentence. Interjections are usually followed by an exclamation mark (!).

Interjections are rarely used in academic or scholarly writing. However, they can be used if they are part of a direct quote. They are more commonly used in formal language than informal language.

Interjections may express:

1. Joy
Hurrah! I have passed the exam!
Hurray! We won this match.

2. Grief
Alas! The city has been captured!

3. Surprise
Ha! Is that all you have to offer?
What! You failed!

4. Approval
Bravo! You have done a good job.
Good! Now we can move on to the next chapter.

5. Fear
Aah! The monster’s got me!

6. Disgust
Eww! That movie was so gory.
Ugh! I’m never doing that again!

7. Making a mistake
Oops! Sorry I didn’t see those skates there.

8. Pain
Ouch! That hurt. Stop pinching me!

9. Desire for silence
Shh! The show is about to start.

10. Dismay
Uh oh! The teacher’s caught him.
Alas! I’m lost in the wilderness.

11. Relief
Whew! I can’t believe we actually finished it all.

12. Admiration/ appreciation
Wow! That’s really great news!
Congrats! You finally got your Master’s degree.

13. Celebration
Yippee! We won. Let’s head to the bar.
Yay! The exams are over.

14. Anger/annoyance
Hey! Stop messing with me!

Certain groups of words are also used to express some sudden feeling or emotion.

Examples:
Ah me!
For shame!
Well done!
Good gracious!
My goodness!
Oh dear!

Worksheet

Fill in the blanks appropriate interjections.

• ………… We have a party tomorrow!
• …………… You look great this morning.
• ……………. That was the best performance to date.
• …………….. I can’t believe you broke my favorite toy.
• …………… I think I have lost my keys again.
• ……………… I finally finished the painting.
• ………… J. K. Rowling is doing a reading at the local library.
• ………. What a pretty dress!
• ……….. That feels good.
• ………….. That hurts!

Answers

• Hurray! We have a party tomorrow!
• Wow! You look great this morning.
• Bravo! That was the best performance to date.
• What! I can’t believe you broke my favorite toy.
• Uh oh! I think I have lost my keys again.
• Yippee! I finally finished the painting.
• Yay! J. K. Rowling is doing a reading at the local library.
• Wow! What a pretty dress!
• Ah! That feels good.
• Ouch! That hurts!